Avoiding Malware Infections Five simple steps for protecting your computer A s a chiropractor, I know we often neglect or push aside important office procedures such as computer backups, computer user security and online security. The discussion for this instal-ment of DC Tech Talk centres on the many ways your computer can become infected with malicious software. We want you to realize that keeping safe online involves more than just relying on an antivirus program. Although you should always have antivirus software installed, it’s also every bit as important to avoid the common bad online habits that often cause virus infections in the first place. Taking the steps below is the key to staying vigilant online and ensuring that the risk of getting any malicious software installed on your computer is minimal. ALWAYS HAVE ANTIVIRUS SOFTWARE INSTALLED Some computer users believe that if they spend their time carefully avoiding suspicious websites and other content when online, they’ll never end up with malicious software on their computer. The reality is, however, that you should always have antivirus software installed and running on your computer, regardless of your level of knowledge and experience. In reality, most malicious software ends up on your computer without your knowledge, using hidden installation techniques that you will never even know about unless you regularly scan your computer with antivirus software. It’s important to choose your antivirus software carefully, however. There are many solutions out there but you absolutely don’t have to pay for an expensive antivirus suite. There are plenty of free solutions, such as AVG Free or Microsoft Security Essentials, and, while they might not be as so-phisticated as the paid solutions, they do offer an essential, basic level of protection against malware. Any decent antivirus software also offers real-time protection, meaning that it will usually catch an attempted security breach before the malicious software has a chance to get itself installed on your computer. Always make sure that you go for a reputable antivirus program and not one of the almost un-known programs that you might see advertised on the Internet from time to time. Some of these are false antivirus programs and actually cause your computer more harm than good. These are known as rogue virus scanners and are often advertised using pop-ups that tell you that your computer is infected, even if it’s not. Such software, sometimes referred to as “scareware” deliberately tries to blackmail the user into installing it. Finally, always keep your antivirus software up to date. This should be done automatically. DOWNLOAD FILES ONLY FROM REPUTABLE SOURCES One of the most common causes of malware infections is downloading torrents, especially those that contain illegal software. When downloading torrents, you should always be especially vigilant and 18 • CANADIAN CHIROPRACTOR | DECEMBER 2012 www.canadianchiropractor.ca
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